Image processing apparatus and program storage medium

• US 6,968,077 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2000
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Yamanaka, Takatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhavesh M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choobin, Barry
• Application Number:
  US09/495,931
• Time in Patent Office: 2,120 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128, 382/132, 382/226, 382/227, 382/228, 382/224, 382/225, 382/240, 128/922, 250/455.11, 250/461.2, 250/491.1, 356/39, 377/10, 377/13, 358/1.16, 345/418
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/00 General purpose image data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30004 Biomedical image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/32 Image data format
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/238 using non-full search, e.g. three-step search
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 9/00 Image coding bandwidth or redundancy reduction for static pictures H04N1/41; coding or decoding of static colour picture signals H04N1/64; methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/00

Abstract

An image processing apparatus deals with a plurality of objects each having a pair of image data representative of an image and image attribute information representative of an attribute of the image, wherein the plurality of objects are linked in form of a hierarchy structure including a parentage. The image processing apparatus comprises object producing means for producing new objects upon succession of image attribute information of a parent object, object deleting means for deleting an object and the associated descendant objects as well, and attribute information altering means for altering an attribute of an object and an attribute of the associated descendant objects as well.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus for dealing with objects in an object system consisting of a plurality of objects each having a pair of image data representative of an image and image attribute information representative of an attribute of the image, said image processing apparatus comprising:

object deriving means for deriving image attribute information representative of the attribute of the image for linking the plurality of objects, the derived attribute information including image format data representative of the image;

object linking means for linking the plurality of objects in form of a hierarchy structure including parentage; and

object producing means for producing new objects, wherein when said object producing means produces new objects having a parent object, said object producing means sets up image attribute information including the image format data of the parent object on the new objects now on production in form of a default.

5. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image processing apparatus deals with a medical image, and the image attribute information includes patient information and photographic condition.

2. An image processing apparatus for dealing with objects in an object system consisting of a plurality of objects each having a pair of image data representative of an image and image attribute information representative of an attribute of the image, said image processing apparatus comprising:

object deriving means for deriving image attribute information representative of the attribute of the image for linking the plurality of objects, the derived attribute information including image format data representative of the image;

object linking means for linking the plurality of objects in form of a hierarchy structure including parentage; and

attribute altering means for altering image attribute information including the image format data of existing objects, wherein when said attribute altering means alters image attribute information including the image format data of an object having a descendant object, said attribute altering means causes image attribute information including the image format data altered in image attribute information of an object to be altered to be reflected in the descendant object of the object to be altered.

6. An image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said image processing apparatus deals with a medical image, and the image attribute information includes patient information and photographic condition.

3. An image processing apparatus for dealing with objects in an object system consisting of a plurality of objects each having a pair of image data representative of an image and image attribute information representative of an attribute of the image, said image processing apparatus comprising:

object deriving means for deriving image attribute information representative of the attribute of the image for linking the plurality of objects, the derived attribute information including image format data representative of the image;

object linking means for linking the plurality of objects in form of a hierarchy structure including parentage; and

object deleting means for deleting existing objects, wherein when said object deleting means deletes an object having descendant objects, said object deleting means deletes also the descendant objects of an object to be deleted.

7. An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said image processing apparatus deals with a medical image, and the image attribute information includes patient information and photographic condition.

4. An image processing apparatus for performing an image processing including a production processing for an object having a pair of image data representative of an image and image attribute information representative of an attribute of the image, said image processing apparatus comprising:

object deriving means for deriving image attribute information representative of the attribute of the image for linking a plurality of objects, the derived attribute information including image format data representative of the image;

storage means for storing image attribute information including the image format data for a default, where the plurality of objects of the image and the image attribute information including the image format data are linked in form of a hierarchy structure including parentage; and

object producing means for producing objects,

wherein said object producing means sets up image attribute information including the image format data stored in said storage means on an object now on production in form of a default.

8. An image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said image processing apparatus deals with a medical image, and the image attribute information includes patient information and photographic condition.

9. A program storage medium loaded onto a computer system for storing an image processing program for causing said computer system to operate as an image processing apparatus for dealing with objects in an object system consisting of a plurality of objects each having a pair of image data representative of an image and image attribute information representative of an attribute of the image, said image processing program comprising:

object deriving means for deriving image attribute information representative of the attribute of the image for linking the plurality of objects, the derived attribute information including image format data representative of the image;

object linking means for linking the plurality of objects in form of a hierarchy structure including parentage, and

object producing means for producing new objects, wherein when said object producing means produces new objects having a parent object, said object producing means sets up image attribute information including the image format data of the parent object on the new objects now on production in form of a default.

13. A program storage medium according to claim 9, wherein said image processing program deals with a medical image, and the image attribute information includes patient information and photographic condition.

10. A program storage medium loaded onto a computer system for storing an image processing program for causing said computer system to operate as an image processing apparatus for dealing with objects in an object system consisting of a plurality of objects each having a pair of image data representative of an image and image attribute information representative of an attribute of the image, said image processing program comprising:

object deriving means for deriving image attribute information representative of the attribute of the image for linking the plurality of objects, the derived attribute information including image format data representative of the image;

object linking means for linking the plurality of objects in form of a hierarchy structure including parentage, and

attribute altering means for altering image attribute information including the image format data of existing objects, wherein when said attribute altering means alters image attribute information including the image format data of an object having a descendant object, said attribute altering means causes image attribute information including the image format data altered in image attribute information including the image format data of an object to be altered to be reflected in the descendant object of the object to be altered.

14. A program storage medium according to claim 10, wherein said image processing program deals with a medical image, and the image attribute information includes patient information and photographic condition.

11. A program storage medium loaded onto a computer system for storing an image processing program for causing said computer system to operate as an image processing apparatus for dealing with objects in an object system consisting of a plurality of objects each having a pair of image data representative of an image and image attribute information representative of an attribute of the image, said image processing program comprising:

object deriving means for deriving image attribute information representative of the attribute of the image for linking the plurality of objects, the derived attribute information including image format data representative of the image;

object linking means for linking the plurality of objects in form of a hierarchy structure including parentage, and

object deleting means for deleting existing objects, wherein when said object deleting means deletes an object having descendant objects, said object deleting means deletes also the descendant objects of an object to be deleted.

15. A program storage medium according to claim 11, wherein said image processing program deals with a medical image, and the image attribute information includes patient information and photographic condition.

12. A program storage medium loaded onto a computer system for storing an image processing program for causing said computer system to operate as an image processing apparatus for dealing with objects in an object system consisting of a plurality of objects each having a pair of image data representative of an image and image attribute information representative of an attribute of the image, said image processing program comprising:

object deriving means for deriving image attribute information representative of the attribute of the image for linking the plurality of objects, the derived attribute information including image format data representative of the image;

object linking means for linking the plurality of objects in form of a hierarchy structure including parentage, and

object producing means for producing objects, wherein said object producing means sets up a predetermined image attribute information including the image format data on an object now on production in form of a default.

16. A program storage medium according to claim 12, wherein said image processing program deals with a medical image, and the image attribute information includes patient information and photographic condition.